Dayton VA Hospital shooting proves folly of gun prohibitions

10:02am Thursday, April 01, 2004

Federal law prohibits firearms inside federal buildings. State law prohibits this felon from being in possession of a firearm. Ohio's concealed handguns law isn't yet in effect. And yet this madman was able to victimize this nurse, before being stopped by someone with a gun (in this case, a hospital guard).

This should be a lesson to the Ohio Hospital Association, which is encouraging hospitals to post discriminatory signs banning concealed handgun license-holders: criminals ARE NOT deterred by bans of any kind.

Man wounded in VA center shootingShot by officer after pulling gun on nurse

DAYTON | A Trotwood man was shot by a police officer Wednesday after police say he pulled a gun on a nurse at the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

The nurse also was wounded in the shooting, but her injuries were not serious, the center said.

Patrick Gregory Power, 37, of Trotwood was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Click on the "Read More..." link below for more.

Power will not appear before a federal judge until he recovers from his wounds. He was in serious condition late Wednesday at Miami Valley Hospital.

The clash began about 7:10 a.m. when Power went to a nurse working at the center's emergency room admissions desk to complain of a headache, according to a sworn statement by FBI Special Agent Steven M. Darragh.

When the nurse instructed Power to go to Station 1, Power stated, "You don't understand" and provided his VA identification card.

When the nurse again instructed Power to go to Station 1, Power repeated that she didn't understand and aimed a handgun at the nurse's chest, Darragh stated.

The nurse activated a "trouble" alarm and escorted Power to an examination room.

"While walking down the hallway, Power placed the handgun into his pocket," Darragh stated.

After entering the examination room, the nurse instructed Power to turn over the weapon, Darragh stated. Power refused to hand over the gun, and the nurse took Power's vital signs. Power then blocked the doorway with his legs and told the nurse, "Don't leave me here alone."

When the nurse left the room to get a doctor, Power followed her down the hallway.

A VA police officer observed them, called for assistance and ordered Power to put down his gun, Darragh stated.

The nurse "felt a hard object being placed against the left side of her upper torso," Darragh said.

The nurse "heard the police officer instruct" her "to get out of the way." The nurse "leaned forward on the desk away from Power. At that moment," the nurse heard a gunshot and felt herself "shot in her left elbow area," Darragh said.

The nurse "observed Power fall to the ground and he began to bleed." She began treating Power "for the wound he received near his abdomen."

Police recovered a 9 mm handgun possessed by Power, loaded with six live rounds, including one in the chamber, Darragh said.

Power pleaded guilty in 2001 to cocaine possession and was placed in drug treatment in lieu of conviction, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records. His case was dismissed in 2002 when he completed treatment.

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